Women's basketball advances to fourth straight Horizon League title game

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Green Bay women's basketball team will play for a Horizon League Championship Tuesday after defeating Purdue Fort Wayne 73-48 at the Corteva Coliseum Monday in the Semifinals. The Phoenix will tipoff at 11 AM CT against the winner of Cleveland State/Youngstown State on ESPN2.

The Phoenix held the Mastodons to just 16.7 percent from beyond the arc in a 3-for-18 shooting performance.

The Phoenix (24-8) had three players score in double figures, led by a season-high from senior Carley Duffney, who had 20 points. Meghan Schultz tacked on a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds and Kristina Ouimette chipped in as well with 11 points from the bench.

Green Bay out-rebounded Purdue Fort Wayne 47-27 in Monday's game, led by Schultz's 10 boards, which she achieved through three quarters. The Phoenix also grabbed 16 offensive rebounds and scored nine second chance points.

Green Bay forced 16 Purdue Fort Wayne turnovers while committing 12 themselves in Monday's game. The Phoenix turned those takeaways into 15 points on the offensive end of the floor. Maddy Skorupski's season-high six steals led the way for Green Bay.

HOW IT HAPPENED

After trading baskets early, Green Bay went on a 6-0 run with 5:24 left in the first quarter to take a 13-9 lead, a score that would hold for the rest of the period. Green Bay did most of its first quarter damage in the paint, scoring eight of its 13 points close to the basket.

Green Bay kept its first quarter lead intact before going on a 10-0 run starting at the 9:13 mark in the second period, highlighted by a three in the corner from Ellie Buzzelle, to increase its lead to 23-9. The Mastodons cut into that lead, but the Phoenix still enjoyed a 34-23 advantage heading into halftime. Green Bay was strong from deep in the period, knocking down three shots from downtown to account for nine of its 21 points.

Following halftime, Green Bay continued to expand its advantage, pushing it to 50-35 before going on a 9-0 run capped off by a  Kristina Ouimette

 with five seconds left in the third to expand the lead further to 59-35 heading into the fourth. Green Bay played well near the basket, scoring 18 of its 25 points in the paint.

Green Bay started tacking on points in the fourth almost immediately, going on an 8-0 run, finished off by Jenna Guyer's jumper, to grow the lead to 67-35 with 6:24 to go in the contest. The Mastodons narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, going on an 11-0 scoring run, but the Phoenix still cruised the rest of the way for the 73-48 win. Green Bay took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring 14 of its 14 points in the paint.

GAME NOTES

» Meghan Schultz notched a double-double for the Phoenix with 13 points and 10 rebounds, her first of the season.
» The Phoenix held the Mastodons to only 33.3 percent shooting from the field.
» The Phoenix never trailed after taking a 13-9 first quarter lead.

» The Phoenix shared the ball well, recording an assist on 75 percent of made field goals.
» Green Bay had a great day defensively, holding Purdue Fort Wayne to 17 percent from beyond the arc on 18 attempts.
» Green Bay had a 47-27 edge on the boards in the win.
» The Green Bay defense forced 16 turnovers.
» Green Bay cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 16 offensive boards in the game.
» Carley Duffney led the Phoenix with a Green Bay career-high 20 points, the fifth Phoenix player to score at least 20 points in a game this season.
» Meghan Schultz and Maddy Skorupski led Green Bay with a game-high 10 rebounds apiece.